Catholic Charities helps save dreams from deportation

Honor student Jesus Pompa has one goal in mind: getting a University of California education. But before he got involved with Catholic Charities of Orange County, the La Habra High School senior thought that dream was just that – a dream.

Pompa, 17, is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. Although his high school GPA exceeded his peers' at college application time, he thought his lack of citizenship would make him ineligible for acceptance and left behind at home in La Habra.

"Before the time to apply for college, people were asking me what college I wanted to apply for," Pompa said. "I didn't know how to answer because I didn't even look into that. I didn't think I would be able to."

A Catholic Charities program changed his future.

Since 1976, the nonprofit has provided outreach to individuals and families in need, including food distribution, housing, recreation programs for the disabled, and services to immigrants.

Hoping to further help those efforts, Orange County Register subscribers have earmarked $107,900 in advertising space for Catholic Charities of Orange County through the newspaper's Golden Envelope cheque program.

Alba Ramiro, director of volunteers, told Pompa about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program run by Catholic Charities.

The program assists anyone under 31 who came to the U.S. as a child 16 years old or younger with the federal application process for temporary relief from deportation.

Pompa submitted his application through the charity in September and was accepted three months later. His dreams became a reality. He received a Social Security number, and can apply for a driver's license and college tuition assistance.

"I know that Catholic Charities is on my side," said Pompa, now a volunteer for the organization. "They understand my situation and many others. I know they're here for me and will keep helping me."

Ramiro gained her citizenship through Catholic Charities in 1987.

"I didn't even realize I had gone through Catholic Charities until recently," she said. "And now I get to meet the needs of the agency with a volunteer work force."

Cal State Fullerton graduate Janet Saavedra, 24, has been volunteering with the charity for more than two years.

"I started with the CalFresh Food Stamps application assistance program, and now I work with Alba doing outreach and helping with all of our immigration services," Saavedra said.

The charity works with both documented and undocumented immigrants to gain lawful citizenship and temporary stay permits. It also helps resettle refugees.

Catholic Charities of Orange County has a paid staff of 37 and more than 400 annual volunteers.

Volunteers assist with fundraisers such as the Mardi Gras Charity Gala last month at the Crystal Cathedral. The event raised more than $260,000. They also help with recreation camps for people with developmental disabilities and with food distribution to the needy.

There are 248 families in the charity's Adopt-a-Family program that links benefactors to families in need, said Executive Director Teresa "Tita" Smith, who has been involved with Catholic Charities for nearly 12 years.

The organization also runs two affordable senior-living residences. Both the 110-unit Casa Santa Maria in Buena Park and the 80-unit Guadalupe Manor in Fountain Valley provide eligible low-income seniors a place to live, along with care and assistance.